Serial Mom:
Serial Mom is a black comedy. This is shown through the opening frames by the contrast created through the writing on screen and then the change to ambient music playing whist the opening titles are being shown.
A feature of a dark comedy is that humour is created through a taboo subject. The opening does this by telling the audience the film is based on true events but wording it so it so it has subtle humour, also the cut to sky imagery behind the titled frames makes it harder for the audience to believe the level of seriousness to the film. Link to Serial Mom:
Silence of the Lambs:
Silence of the lambs is an example of a Crime Horror. Features within the opening that suggest this type of Genre are:
- The sound of a bird, Raven, bird of pray maybe, this can foreshadow death.
- The music is eerie, coupled with heavy breathing causes a troubled ambience.
- "FBI" on the protagonists jumper suggests crime.
- Woods with the colour drained suggests danger.
Each of these adds to a troubled atmosphere that implies to an audience of its dark subject matter.
Underworld:
The underworld series are Action-Horror films. Within the series the director uses these features for the first frames:
- Voice over, describing the history that's caused the present.
- Footage is often dark due to the story taking place at night.
- Thunder, rain and wind used within the background suggesting trouble.
- The use of bats to create a Vampire world.
- The first character has her back to the screen to delay her introduction, creating more mystery as the audience already knows her voice.
Sex and the City:
An example of a Romantic Comedy. The film offers within the opening sequence:
- An upbeat song with the lyrics containing famous fashion brands.
- The introduction of Carrie.
- Elements from the television show.
- Female dominated cast.
- Voice over telling the audience they're in New York giving reasons why people come to New York for "Labels and Love".
Pursuit of Happiness:
Biographical Drama.
The opening sequence is slow to allow the audience to ease into the storyline. "Based on a true story" appears in the bottom right hand side to reinforce that the story has come from some true events. Light music is played to create a level of softness with the presents of a boy and his father in the background, this suggests that the main story line is about relationships.
The Craft:
A Teen Horror. The importance of this film opening is the strength of the Mise En Scene.
- The presents of a Pentagram, candles, Chanting all imply witches.
- The thunder can foreshadow a problem that the three witches cause.
- The fast cuts to images of mythology reinforce the level of fantasy within the film.
- The characters introduced are young suggesting a teenage audience.
Beaches:
Comedy Drama. The opening differs to that of a musical due to the naturalist setting of where a person should sing similarly the film Death becomes her does the same.
- Letters suggests a relationship between people and a history.
- Large stage and musician imply level of importance of character such as fame.
Phantom of the Opera:
Musical. The opening:
- Gives time and place "Paris, 1919"
- Black and white to imply history or a time that is just a small part of the film.
- Aged characters.
- Auction with a Monkey playing music which the two characters want.
- Run down place.
- Singing that appears from nowhere and is quite haunting.
Conclusion of Film Genre research:
All films open with the companies that are involved in the distribution. They have a strong relation with the Mise En Scene to the genre of the film and that character are not necessarily fully introduced by the opening sequence. They give ideas as to what the film is about.
The research has also helped in choosing which Genre we would like our film to be placed within and which would be the most interesting to work within.
Other Films we researched:
- Halloween
- The Mummy
- Pulp Fiction
- Saw
- 28 days
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